Roller-pisjon engine



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet '1.

' 'P. GLEA$ON.

ROLLER PISTON ENGINE.

: Patented Jan. 11, 1887.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' F. GLEASON ROLLER PISTON ENGINE.

No. 356,036. Patented Jan. 11, 188'7,

m N 5' K N H5 (No Model. 5 Sheets-Sheet '3.

F. GLEASUN.

ROLLER PISTON ENGINE. I No. 856,036. Patented Jan. 11, 1887..

Izzva 22 202:

(:No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

P. GLEASON.

ROLLER PISTON ENGINE.

\ Patented Jan 11 1887 I munnmm- (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5; P. GLEASON.

ROLLER PISTON ENGINE.

Patented Jan. 11, 1887-.

' detail perspective view of the piston.

llnrrarates ArnNr tries.

FRANCIS GLEASON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROLLER -PISTON ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part 01' Letters Patent No. 356,036, dated January 11, 1887.

Application filed May 18, 1886. Serial No. 202,605. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS GLnAsoN, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Roller-Piston Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to improvements in rotary engines, and has for its object the provision, in an engine of the class named, of a main cylinder having suitable heads and centrallyarranged driving-shaft, a roller-piston pivoted to said shaft eccentrically of the same and in contact with the main cylinder, a wing hung or pivoted to said shaft within and projecting through said roller-piston to the inner surface of the main cylinder, and means for "introduc ing steam to the space between said wing and the periphery of said roller-piston, to move said wing and piston in opposite directions.

To the accomplishment of the above the in vention consists in the construction of the several elements comprised in my improved engine, and in the arrangement and combination of said elements for service in the complete machine, substantially as hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a roller-piston engine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line at x of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a detached Figs. 5 and 6 represent detached detail side and end elevations of the steam-receiving wing. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of saidwing, taken on the line 3 y of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 represents a detached detail view of the mechanism that operates the governor-rods. Figs. 9, 10, and ll'are detail views of parts of the. operating-mechanism. Figs. 12 to 16, inclusive, illustrate diagram views showing the position of the roller-piston and moving abutment or wing at different points of the revolution of the main shaft.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference denote similar parts, I will first describe the construction of the several elements comprised in my invention, and thereafter will explain the operation thereof.

Proceeding, A designates the main supporting-frame, to and by which the several elements of the engine are secured and supported.

A designates the bed plate, preferably formed integral with the frame and provided with apertures to receive bolts, whereby it is secured in position upon any suitable foundation.

I provide the frame A with passages a a and a a for live and exhaust steam, preferably forming said passages within the body of the frame, (See Fig. 2.) I provide the frame A, at each side, upon the outer surfaces thereof, with outwardly-swelled portions, to form-heads A A for the cylinders B B,and plane the outer faces of said heads to accommodate the rotating piston and wings within said cylinders, hereinafter described. I provide the cylinders with outer heads, B B and secure said heads, together with the cylinders, to the heads A A by bolts b b.

B B designate projections integral with the heads B B ,atthemiddles thereof,withinwhich are formed chambers I) b for a purpose hereinafter described. I

(J designates the main shaft, which extends from one to the other of the-cylinders B B, at the middle of the inner sides thereof, and is jonrnaled in hollow sleeves d d, formed integral with rotatable wings D D, that operate within the cylinders 13 B. The adjacent inner ends of the sleeves d d are journaled in sleeve-sections E E, the outer ends of which are provided with circular flanged heads 6 e, which are placed in circular recesses a 0 formed in the frame A at opposite sides thereof. The inner ends of the sleeves E E are beveled and bear against the beveled faces of packing-rings E E placed upon the shaft 0, at or near its middle, to prevent leakage of steam, as will be hereinafter explained. 'The rings EFF are adjusted outward against the sleeves E E by short tapering sleeve-sections e e, placed at opposite sides of the shaft upon a headed screw-threaded bolt, 0*, that passes through the shaft and is provided with jamnuts 6 e, by operating which the sections 6 .9 are forced inward against the beveled adjacent faces of the packing-rings, whereby said rings are moved outward, as stated.

F designates the driving-wheel, which is the sleeves E E, and is held and moves in uni-" son with the shaft 0 by the sleeves e eflwhich project into apertures f formed in the hub f of said wheel.

In practice, I prefer that the sleeves E E and shaft 0 shall rotate in unison; but, if desired, said shaft may remain stationary, the driving-wheel rotating thereon.

D D designate the wings, which operate within the cylinders B B. In practice, as movable abutments, said wings consist of flat sections cl d provided upon their side edges at one end with hollow bosses or sleeves cl (1, hereinbefore described, and hollow bosses or sleeves d d in alignment therewith, that pro ject, when the wings are in position, into the chambers 12 b of the heads B B, for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

- The side and end edges of the sections (2 d of the wings bear snugly, when said wings are in position, against the inner surfaces of the heads and sides of the cylinders B B. I provide the sleeves d d at their outer ends with annular chambers d d, that communicate through a series of ports, d (2 with the livesteam passages a a and through ports d d with chambers d d, formed in the sections d. d of the wings. Thesechambers open outward.through therear faces of the wings, and are each provided with covers or plates at d preferably held in position upon the sections by countersunk screws. 01" d designate cutaway portions of the lower ends of the covers d (Z whereby ports are formed for the passage of steam.

G G designate slide-valves, that are operated within the chambers cl al through rods G G, that extend from said valves through apertures g g to and into the hollow bosses orsleevesd d and are'connected by links 9 g with rods G G that extend through apertures g formed through the heads B B at the middles thereof, and are provided within the sleeves d d with cup-shaped disks G G that slide freely within said sleeves, and upon their outer ends, within chambers g 9 formed in bosses g g", with disks 9 against which bear the inner ends of springs G G, to which tension is applied by adj usting-screws G G, that take into the screw-threaded sides of the chambers g g.

H H designate apertures formed in the bosses d" d at angles with and intersecting the apertures g g therein, to receive packing material, and screws h h to prevent escape of steam about the valve-rods G G.

The valves G G each consist in a single side, g", and ribs 9, having a cut-away portion, through which steam passes to the interior thereof. In practice the side 9 is placed against the side of the chambers d or d of the wings D or D farthest from the steam-ports therein. This valve, together with its operating mechanism, is applicable to engines differin g in construction from that herein described. I have therefore made said parts the subjectmatter of a separate application for Letters Patent, filed May 12, 1886, and bearing Serial No. 201,979, and while showing and describing the construction and operation of the parts named, I yet do not claim said parts herein.

I I designate short cranks, which are secured to the opposite ends of the shaft 0 and provided with crank-pieccsi i, that are journaled in cross-heads k that extend from side to side of openended cylinders K K, that constitute the roller-piston, the ends of which abut against the opposite headsqof the cylinders B B.

The roller-pistons K K have diameters of such length that when they are in posit-ion the inner surfaces thereof shall just clear the ends of the sleeves d d within the cylinders B B, while the exterior surfaces of said cylinders K K are in contact with the inner surfaces of said cylinders B B. (See Fig. 3.) To insure that the peripheries of the pistons K K shall constantly be in contact with the inner surfaces of the cylinders B B, I provide that the apertures in the cross-heads It It of K K shall be somewhat larger than the crank-pins i z", and place therein eccentric rings 13? '6 having slots i to receive pins i which project from said crank-pins. The rings 2' i have motion in but one direction-that in which the cranks moveand will consequently hold the peripheries of the rollers'or cylinders K K in constant contact, under the pressure of steam, with the inner surfaces of the cylinders B B. By reference to the drawings, Fig. 3, it will be observed that the outer ends of the wings D D project through the roller-pistons K K, at one side thereof,and that the angles formed by said wings and the diametrical axis of said pistons K Kare constantly changing. I therefore provide said pistons with longitudinal slots k W, having concave adjacent faces that receive semicylindrical blocks k W, the faces of which bear against the surfaces of the wings I provide the pistons K K with ports 70, locating said ports in advance of the wings, through which the steam may pass at stated periods from the exterior of said rollers K K to the interior thereof, and thence through annular grooves a a formed in the heads A A to the exhaust-passages a a I control the quantity of steam admitted to the chambers 01 at through the centrifugal action of semi-cylindrical weights L L, which are provided with pivotal pins Z Z, that enter the ends of the crank-pins v; i, and projecting studs Z Z that project into the cup-shape disks G G of the rods G G.

Figs. 3 and 12 to 16, inclusive, represent diagrams of the various positions assumed by the roller-piston at oneend of the engine and its movable abutment or wing during a halfrevolution' of the main shaft. In one of said figures-to wit, Fig. 12-I have shown the distance around the main cylinder, measured upon the interior surface thereof, divided into ten equal parts, and in said Figs. 12 to 16, respectrro ively, have shown the piston as touching said cylinder upon the points 1 to 5, at which time the movable abutment or wing which projects through said roller-piston, as hereinbefore described, will intersect the epicycloid 25 25 at the points 1 to 5, respectively, said points corresponding with the points, 1 to 5, at which the roller-piston touches the cylinder, as will be understood.

From the figures named it will be seen that the piston rotates upon its axis in the direction indicated by the arrow 17, and that as its periphery is in contact with the interior surface of the main cylinder its pivotal point must move in the direction indicated by the arrow m, whereby, as will be apparent, the piston has motion in two directions-viz., upon its axis, as shown by arrow 17, and in forward direction as regards the main cylinder, as shown by arrow m-the result of which opposite motions operate to cause the movable abutment or wing to move in the direction indicated by the arrow n, which, as regards the inner surface of the main cylinder, is in direction opposite that in which the roller-pis ton moves thereon, as will readily be seen. The movement thus described I deem of great importance, inasmuch as thereby I am enabled to produce results not heretofore produced in this art.

The operation of my improved engine is as follows: The cranks I Ibeing off centersthat is to say, at angles with the wings D D, as shown in Fig. 12steam is now admitted through the passages a a to the annular chambers d d, thence through the passages 11 d to the chambers d" d, and through the ports (1 (Z to the space indicated by the letter M, outside of the pistons K K and in advance of the wings D D, whereby said pistons are forced forward in the direction of the arrow m, and as the peripheries of said pistons are in contact with the inner surfaces of the cylinders B B such forward motion will cause them to rotate, whereby the wings D D are caused-to move in the direction-of the arrow at, in direction opposite to that taken by the pistons, ashereinbefore described. The shaft G will be rotated by the above-described movements of the pistons K K, as will be readily understood. The discharge of steam from the chamber or space M to the interior N of the pistons K K will take place slightly in advance of the movement into alignment of the wings D D and cranks I I by the opening to the steam-space M of the ports k 70313118 steam passing through said ports to the interior N of the pistons K K, and thence to the exhaustpassages a a An excess of speed of the shaft G will, through centrifugal force, cause the weights L L to move outward and the studs 12 13 thereon topress the rods G G out ward through the cup shaped disks G G thereby, through the links g g and rods G G moving the valves GG inward and closing the openings d d", to a greater or less extent,

against the passage'of steam. The speed of the engine may be ,determined by imparting to the springs G8 G through the adjustingscrews G G, a greater or less degree of tension.

Ihave herein shown and described an engine provided with double cylinders.

used independently of each other with good results. I prefer, however, to employ two cylinders, as herein shown, and as in this construction there occur dead-points, I prefer to secure the cranks I I to the shaft 0 at right angles to each other.

If desired, the projection B B may be separate from the heads B B and secured thereto in any desired manner to secure ready access to the cylinders.

The within-described machine may, with some slight modification, be used as a pump for fluids of different kindsas, for instance, air, water, &c.or as a meter for measuring fluids, as well as in the capacity herein described, it only being necessary in such use to apply power to the main driving-wheel of the device, as will be readily understood.

Without limiting myself to the exact construction of parts shown and described, I claim- 1. In a rotary engine, a main cylinder inclosing a piston adapted to rotate upon its It will, howi ever, be apparent that said cylinders may be axis and to roll around said main cylinder in contact with the interior surface thereof, substantiallyas described.

2. In a rotary engine, a main cylinder inclosing a rotatable piston and a movable abuttoo mentor wing, said piston and wing adapted to move in opposite directions as regards the interior surface of said main cylinder, substantially as described.

3. .A main cylinder, a rotating piston, and a movable abutment or wing within and moving in opposite direction as regards the interior of said-main cylinder, and means, substantially as described, to move said parts, as andfor the purpose described.

4. A main cylinder, a shaft centrally arranged thereon, a rotatable piston eccentrically arranged as regards said shaft, and a movable abutment or wing, said piston and wing adapted to move in opposite directions as regards the interior surface ofsaid main cylinder, substantially as described.

5. A main cylinder, a shaft centrally arranged therein, a rotatable piston eccentrically arranged as regards said shaft, a movable abutment or wing hung upon said shaft, and means,

substantially as described, to cause said pis inder with a crank having a crank-pin, a ro--. tatable piston-cylinder pivoted to said crank- 8. A main cylinder having a shaft centrallyv arranged therein, a rotating piston eccentrically arranged as regards said shaft, and a movable abutment or Wing hung upon said shaft and provided with steam-passages, said piston and wing adapted to be moved in opposite directions as regards the interior surface of said main cylinder, substantially as described.

9. In combination, a main cylinder having a head, a shaft centrally arranged as regards said head and the cylinder and provided with a crank, a piston pivoted to said crank and adapted to roll around the interior of the cylinder in contact therewith, and a traveling abutment or wing having steam-passages formed in its body, substantially as described.

10. A main cylinder having heads, one of which is provided with live-steam and exhaust passages, a shaft journaled in said head, and a piston eccentrically' pivoted to said shaft, in combination with a traveling wing journaled upon said shaft within the main cylinder, and means, substantially as described, for admitting steam to the interior of said main cylinder to operate said wing, as and for the purpose specified.

11. In a rotary engine, a main cylinder having heads, one of which is provided with steampassages, a traveling wing provided with a sleeve journaled in said head, and a rotatable crankshaft journaled in said sleeve, in combination with a rotatable piston pivoted to said crank-shaft and provided with a slot, as k having semicylindrical blocks, as 70* k to permitthe passage of the wing, substantially as described.

12. A main cylinder having a head, a shaft centrally arranged as regards said head, and

a rotating piston eccentrically arranged as regards said shaft, in combinationwith a traveling abutment or wing hung upon said shaft and provided with a steam-receiving chamber and passages to and from said, chamber, to move said piston and wing in opposite directions as regards the interior surface of said main cylinder, as and for the purpose described.

13. In a rotary engine, a main cylinder having heads, a shaft journaled in one of said heads, and a wing 'journaled upon said. shaft within the cylinder and provided with a steamreceiving chamber and passages to and from said chamber, in combination with a governorvalve within said chamber, and means, substantially as described, for operating said valve.

14. A main cylinder provided with heads having steam-passages, a shaft, as O, journaled in one of said heads and provided with a crank, a rotatable piston pivoted to said crank, in combination with a wing .journaled within said main cylinder upon the shaft 0 and provided with a steam-receiving chamber, a governor-valve therein, and passages to and from said chamber, substantially as described.

15. In a rotary engine, a traveling wing, as D or D, having hollow bosses or sleeves, an annular chamber in one of said sleeves, passages from said chamber to a steam-receiving chamber in the, body of said wing, and passages therefrom, substantially as describedf 16. In a rotary engine, a main cylinder having heads provided with steam-passages, a shaft journaled in one of said heads and provided within said cylinder with a crank, and a piston pivoted to said crank, in combination with a traveling wing having hollow bosses or sleeves and steam-receiving chamber and passages, and means, substantially as described, for operating said valve, as and for the purpose specified.

17. In a rotary engine, a main cylinder, a

traveling wing placed therein and provided with steam receiving chamber, passages to and from said chamber, and governor-valve within said chamber, in combination with an eccentrically hung governor weight, and means, substantially as described, for connecting said weight and valve, as and for the purpose specified.

18. In a rotary engine, a main cylinder, a head therefor having a centrally-arranged chamber, as 1) b and a rod having a cupshaped or concave disk operating in said cham-' her, in combination with a traveling wing journaled in said main cylinder and provided with steam-receiving chamber and passages and a governor-valve, substantially as described.

19. In a rotary engine, a main cylinder having a head provided with a centrally-arranged chamber, a rod provided with a disk operating within said chamber and connected to a governor-valve placed within a steam-receiving chamber formed in a traveling wing journaled in said main cylinder, in combination with a rotatable shaft having a crank, a piston pivoted to said crank, and the live and exhaust steam passages, substantially as described.

20. In a rotary engine, the main cylinder, a shaft journaledin one head thereof, asleeve, as E or E, journaled upon said shaft, in (0111- bination with a packing-ring, as E or E beveled sleeves 6 e bolt e, and jam-nuts e e,

inders, traveling wings journaled upon the low roller-piston mounted upon said eccentric ring and rotated by contact with the inner surface of said main cylinder, substantially as described.

23. In a rotary engine, a main cylinder having heads, a shaft j ournaled in one of said heads and provided within said cylinder with a crank-arm, to which is pivoted a hollow rollerpiston having a slot, as k If, and steanrports, as k k, in combination-with a wing journaled upon said shaft and provided with a steam-. receiving chamber having a removable cover, as d 01, provided with cut-away part, as d d, sliding governor-valve, and mechanism,

substantially as described, for operating said valve, as and for the purpose specified.

24. In a rotary engine, a main cylinder, a rotatable shaft therein, provided with a cranlc arm, a hollow roller-piston mounted upon said crank-arm and rolling in contact with and rotated by said main cylinder, and a wing journaled upon said shaft within and projecting thence through said roller-piston to the inner surface of the main cylinder, and means, substantially as described, for introducing stealn' between the wing and periphery of said roller-cylinder, whereby to move said wing and cylinder in opposite directions as regards the inner surface of said main, cylinder.

25. In a rotary engine, a main cylinder, in combination with a piston adapted to rotate upon its axis and to roll around the interior of said cylinder, substantially as described.

26. In a rotary engine, a main cylinder, a shaft centrally arranged as regards said ,cylinder, and a piston-cylinder adapted to rotate upon its axis and about said shaft, eccentrically of the latter, substantially as described.

27. In a rotary engine, a stationary main cylinder, a shaft centrally arranged as regards said cylinder, and a piston-cylinder eccentrically pivoted to said shaft and adaptedto rotate upon its axis and about said shaft, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS GLEASON.

Witnesses:

SAMUELVP. COURTNEY, E. A. Brass. 

